ASILIDAE 48 (Assassin Flies Or Robber Flies)
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Load more
Recommended publications
-
Spatiotemporal Pattern of Phenology Across Geographic Gradients in Insects
Zurich Open Repository and Archive University of Zurich Main Library Strickhofstrasse 39 CH-8057 Zurich www.zora.uzh.ch Year: 2017 Spatiotemporal pattern of phenology across geographic gradients in insects Khelifa, Rassim Abstract: Phenology – the timing of recurrent biological events – influences nearly all aspects of ecology and evolution. Phenological shifts have been recorded in a wide range of animals and plants worldwide during the past few decades. Although the phenological responses differ between taxa, they may also vary geographically, especially along gradients such as latitude or elevation. Since changes in phenology have been shown to affect ecology, evolution, human health and the economy, understanding pheno- logical shifts has become a priority. Although phenological shifts have been associated with changes in temperature, there is still little comprehension of the phenology-temperature relationship, particularly the mechanisms influencing its strength and the extent to which it varies geographically. Such ques- tions would ideally be addressed by combining controlled laboratory experiments on thermal response with long-term observational datasets and historical temperature records. Here, I used odonates (drag- onflies and damselflies) and Sepsid scavenger flies to unravel how temperature affects development and phenology at different latitudes and elevations. The main purpose of this thesis is to provide essential knowledge on the factors driving the spatiotemporal phenological dynamics by (1) investigating how phenology changed in time and space across latitude and elevation in northcentral Europe during the past three decades, (2) assessing potential temporal changes in thermal sensitivity of phenology and (3) describing the geographic pattern and usefulness of thermal performance curves in predicting natural responses. -
The Occurrence of Stalk-Eyed Flies (Diptera, Diopsidae) in the Arabian Peninsula, with a Review of Cluster Formation in the Diopsidae Hans R
Tijdschrift voor Entomologie 160 (2017) 75–88 The occurrence of stalk-eyed flies (Diptera, Diopsidae) in the Arabian Peninsula, with a review of cluster formation in the Diopsidae Hans R. Feijen*, Ralph Martin & Cobi Feijen Catalogue and distribution data are presented for the six Diopsidae species known to occur in the Arabian Peninsula: Sphyracephala beccarii, Chaetodiopsis meigenii, Diasemopsis aethiopica, Diopsis arabica, Diopsis mayae and Diopsis sp. (ichneumonea species group). The biogeographical aspects of their distribution are discussed. Records of Diopsis apicalis and Diopsis collaris are removed from the list for Arabia as these were based on misidentifications. Synonymies involving Diasemopsis aethiopica and Diasemopsis varians are discussed. Only one out of four specimens in the D. elegantula type series proved conspecific with D. aethiopica. The synonymy of D. aethiopica and D. varians is rejected. A lectotype for Diasemopsis elegantula is now designated. D. elegantula is proposed as junior synonym of D. varians. A fly cluster of more than 80,000 Sphyracephala beccarii, observed in Oman, is described. The occurrence of cluster formations in the Diopsidae is reviewed, while a possible explanation is indicated. Hans R. Feijen*, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands. [email protected] Ralph Martin, University of Freiburg, Münchhofstraße 14, 79106 Freiburg, Germany Cobi Feijen, Naturalis Biodiversity Center, P.O. Box 9517, 2300 RA Leiden, The Netherlands Introduction catalogue for Diopsidae, Steyskal (1972) only re- Westwood (1837b) described Diopsis arabica as ferred to Westwood and Hennig as far as Diopsidae the first stalk-eyed fly from the Arabian Peninsula. in Arabia was concerned. -
Diptera - Cecidomyiidae, Trypetidae, Tachinidae, Agromyziidae
DIPTERA - CECIDOMYIIDAE, TRYPETIDAE, TACHINIDAE, AGROMYZIIDAE. DIPTERA Etymology : Di-two; ptera-wing Common names : True flies, Mosquitoes, Gnats, Midges, Characters They are small to medium sized, soft bodied insects. The body regions are distinct. Head is often hemispherical and attached to the thorax by a slender neck. Mouthparts are of sucking type, but may be modified. All thoracic segments are fused together. The thoracic mass is largely made up of mesothorax. A small lobe of the mesonotum (scutellum) overhangs the base of the abdomen. They have a single pair of wings. Forewings are larger, membranous and used for flight. Hindwings are highly reduced, knobbed at the end and are called halteres. They are rapidly vibrated during flight. They function as organs of equilibrium.Flies are the swiftest among all insects. Metamorphosis is complete. Larvae of more common forms are known as maggots. They are apodous and acephalous. Mouthparts are represented as mouth hooks which are attached to internal sclerites. Pupa is generally with free appendages, often enclosed in the hardened last larval skin called puparium. Pupa belongs to the coarctate type. Classification This order is sub divided in to three suborders. I. NMATOCERA (Thread-horn) Antenna is long and many segmented in adult. Larval head is well developed. Larval mandibles act horizontally. Pupa is weakly obtect. Adult emergence is through a straight split in the thoracic region. II. BRACHYCERA (Short-horn) Antenna is short and few segmented in adult. Larval head is retractile into the thorax Larval mandibles act vertically Pupa is exarate. Adult emergence is through a straight split in the thoracic region. -
Britain's Robberflies – Diptera Asilidae
Britain’s Robberflies – Diptera Asilidae Malcolm Smart Asilidae – the BIG CATS of the Diptera World Adults exclusively carnivorous predators of other insects – mostly other Diptera Larvae where known are also believed to be predatory What distinguishes a Robber Fly (an Asilid) from other Diptera ??? Example based on drawings and photos of Philonicus albiceps notch Two primary characters: * Eyes separated in both sexes by a deep notch at the top of mystax the head. * There is a central clump of down-curved bristles on the face above the upper mouth edge (called the mystax). Typically large and robust Diptera with elongated bodies . The proboscis is rigid and adapted for piercing insect cuticle. Asilidae species count with examples World Britain VCs surrounding Bedford Bedfordshire VC 7000+ 29 18 13 World distribution of Asilidae Genera and Species (after F. Geller-Grim) An introduction to the British Asilidae fauna compiled using data primarily from the following sources Data held by the Soldierflies and Allies Recording Scheme run by & Distribution maps derived from it at October 2016 (15900 Asilidae records) Photographs of Asilidae submitted to Facebook for identification or comment by: Lester Wareham, Mo Richards, Graham Dash, Martin Parr, Graham Brownlow, Mark Welch Albums of Asilidae photographs submitted for public scrutiny by wildlife/ dipterist specialists: Steven Falk, Janet Graham, Ian Andrews, Gail Hampshire Pictures offered by or requested from: Nigel Jones, Martin Harvey, Alan Outen, Mike Taylor, Tim Ransom, Tim Hodge, Fritz -
Order Diptera) with Its Species Diopsis Apicalis in Egypt
Egypt. Acad. J. biolog. Sci., 2 (2): 135-145 (2009) A. Entomology Email: [email protected] ISSN: 1687–8809 Received: 25/11/2009 www.eajbs.eg.net Described a new recorded family Diopsidae of (Order Diptera) with its Species Diopsis apicalis in Egypt Ayman M. Ebrahim Ministry of Agriculture. Plant protection research institute. Taxonomy Department. ASTRACT During rearranging and trying to identify the unidentified specimens of the order Diptera in the main reference insect collection of the Plant Protection Research Institute, 25 unidentified dipterous specimens that were collected from Armant (Assiut, Egypt) attracted the attention with its eyes that far projected from the head. These specimens were identified to the family rank (Diopsidae) by using the key. The representative specimens of this family were identified by Prof. Dr. Hans Feijen to the species ( Diopsis apicalis ). The present study includes Description and taxonomic characters of the family and its species with illustrated species. Key words: Diptera, Diopsidae, Diopsis, Diopsis apicalis Distribution, Egypt INTRODUCTION The family Diopsidae is essentially, confined to the old world tropics. It is unrepresented in the Neotropical region and there is a single species in North America. Aproximately two-third of all described species of the family are Afrotropical in origin. With the exception of Centrioncus prodiopsis, all diopsid adults of both sexes have characteristic eye-stalks. Their bizarre form has engendered considerable interest among taxonomists, resulted in the description of many supposed new species, often without recourse to previous work. Descamps (1957) figured some of the early stages of the common pest species, and considered their biology. -
References (The Literature Survey Was Completed in the Spring of 1995)
References (The literature survey was completed in the Spring of 1995) Abdullah MAR, Abulfatih HA (1995) Predation of Acacia seeds by bruchid beetles and its relation to altitudinal gradient in south-western Saudi Arabia. J Arid Environ 29:99- 105 Abramsky Z, Pinshow B (1989) Changes in foraging effort in two gerbil species with habitat type and intra- and interspecific activity. Oikos 56:43-53 Abramsky Z, Rosenzweig ML, Pins how BP, Brown JS, Kotler BP, Mitchell WA (1990) Habitat selection: an experimental field test with two gerbil species. Ecology 71:2358-2369 Abramsky Z, Shachak M, Subrach A, Brand S, Alfia H (1992) Predator-prey relationships: rodent-snail interaction in the Central Negev Desert ofIsrael. Oikos 65:128-133 Abushama FT (1972) The repugnatorial gland of the grasshopper Poecilocerus hiero glyphicus (Klug). J Entomol Ser A Gen EntomoI47:95-100 Abushama FT (1984) Epigeal insects. In: Cloudsley-Thompson JL (ed) Sahara desert (Key environments). Pergamon Press, Oxford, pp 129-144 Alexander AJ (1958) On the stridulation of scorpions. Behaviour 12:339-352 Alexander AJ (1960) A note on the evolution of stridulation within the family Scorpioni dae. Proc Zool Soc Lond 133:391-399 Alexander RD (1974) The evolution of social behaviour. Annu Rev Ecol Syst 5:325-383 AlthoffDM, Thompson IN (1994) The effects of tail autotomy on survivorship and body growth of Uta stansburiana under conditions of high mortality. Oecologia 100:250- 255 Applin DG, Cloudsley-Thompson JL, Constantinou C (1987) Molecular and physiological mechanisms in chronobiology - their manifestations in the desert ecosystem. J Arid Environ 13:187-197 Arnold EN (1984) Evolutionary aspects of tail shedding in lizards and their relatives. -
ROBBER-FLIES and EMPIDS ROBBER-FLIES Asilidae. Very
ROBBER-FLIES and EMPIDS Asilus ROBBER-FLIES Asilidae. Very bristly predatory flies that head from front generally chase and catch other insects in mid-air. Most species sit in wait and dart out when likely prey appears. The prey is then sucked dry with the stout proboscis, which projects horizontally or obliquely forward. There is a deep groove between the eyes in both sexes, the eyes never touching even in males. A 'beard' on the face protects eyes from struggling prey. Legs are sturdy and have 2 pads at most. Wings folded flat over body at rest. Larvae eat some dead vegetable matter, but most are at least partly predatory and some feed mainly on beetle and fly grubs in the soil. Asilus with prey As Asi/us crabroniformis. An unmistakable fly - one of the largest in B - inhabiting open country 7-10. A very strong flier. Breeds in cow pats and other dung. Dasypogon diadema. First 2 long veins both reach wing margin: wing membrane ribbed. Front tibia has curved spine at tip. Male more uniformly black, with dark wings. 6-8 in scrubby places, especially coastal dunes. S. ;., Leptogaster cylindrica. Feet without pads. Hind femur yellow. 3rd antennal segment ends in bristle. One of the slimmest robber-flies, it resembles a crane-fly in flight. It hunts in grassy places, flying slowly and plucking aphids from the grasses. 5-8. A L. guttiventris is similar but has reddish hind femur. 85 Dioctria atricapi/la. First 2 long veins reach margin. Beard rather sparse and, as in all Oioctria species, the antennae spring from a prominence high on the head. -
Bulletin Number / Numéro 3 Entomological Society of Canada Société D’Entomologie Du Canada September / Septembre 2021
............................................................ Volume 53 Bulletin Number / numéro 3 Entomological Society of Canada Société d’entomologie du Canada September / septembre 2021 Published quarterly by the Entomological Society of Canada Publication trimestrielle par la Société d’entomologie du Canada ...................................................................................................... ..................................................................................................................................................................................................................... ................................ ............................................................................................................................................................................................. ..................................................................................................... List of Contents / Table des matières Volume 53(3), September / septembre 2021 Up front / Avant-propos ..........................................................................................................114 Joint Annual Meeting 2021 / Reunion annuelle conjointe 2021...............................................118 STEP Corner / Le coin de la relève.........................................................................................120 News from the Regions / Nouvelles des régions.............................................................122 People in the News: Matt Muzzatti..........................................................................................124 -
6. Bremsen Als Parasiten Und Vektoren
DIPLOMARBEIT / DIPLOMA THESIS Titel der Diplomarbeit / Title of the Diploma Thesis „Blutsaugende Bremsen in Österreich und ihre medizini- sche Relevanz“ verfasst von / submitted by Manuel Vogler angestrebter akademischer Grad / in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Magister der Naturwissenschaften (Mag.rer.nat.) Wien, 2019 / Vienna, 2019 Studienkennzahl lt. Studienblatt / A 190 445 423 degree programme code as it appears on the student record sheet: Studienrichtung lt. Studienblatt / Lehramtsstudium UF Biologie und Umweltkunde degree programme as it appears on UF Chemie the student record sheet: Betreut von / Supervisor: ao. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Andreas Hassl Danksagung Hiermit möchte ich mich sehr herzlich bei Herrn ao. Univ.-Prof. Dr. Andreas Hassl für die Vergabe und Betreuung dieser Diplomarbeit bedanken. Seine Unterstützung und zahlreichen konstruktiven Anmerkungen waren mir eine ausgesprochen große Hilfe. Weiters bedanke ich mich bei meiner Mutter Karin Bock, die sich stets verständnisvoll ge- zeigt und mich mein ganzes Leben lang bei all meinen Vorhaben mit allen ihr zur Verfügung stehenden Kräften und Mitteln unterstützt hat. Ebenso bedanke ich mich bei meiner Freundin Larissa Sornig für ihre engelsgleiche Geduld, die während meiner zahlreichen Bremsenjagden nicht selten auf die Probe gestellt und selbst dann nicht überstrapaziert wurde, als sie sich während eines Ausflugs ins Wenger Moor als ausgezeichneter Bremsenmagnet erwies. Auch meiner restlichen Familie gilt mein Dank für ihre fortwährende Unterstützung. -
Pick Your Poison: Molecular Evolution of Venom Proteins in Asilidae (Insecta: Diptera)
toxins Article Pick Your Poison: Molecular Evolution of Venom Proteins in Asilidae (Insecta: Diptera) Chris M. Cohen * , T. Jeffrey Cole and Michael S. Brewer * Howell Science Complex, East Carolina University, 1000 E 5th St., Greenville, NC 27858, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] (C.M.C.); [email protected] (M.S.B.) Received: 5 November 2020; Accepted: 20 November 2020; Published: 24 November 2020 Abstract: Robber flies are an understudied family of venomous, predatory Diptera. With the recent characterization of venom from three asilid species, it is possible, for the first time, to study the molecular evolution of venom genes in this unique lineage. To accomplish this, a novel whole-body transcriptome of Eudioctria media was combined with 10 other publicly available asiloid thoracic or salivary gland transcriptomes to identify putative venom gene families and assess evidence of pervasive positive selection. A total of 348 gene families of sufficient size were analyzed, and 33 of these were predicted to contain venom genes. We recovered 151 families containing homologs to previously described venom proteins, and 40 of these were uniquely gained in Asilidae. Our gene family clustering suggests that many asilidin venom gene families are not natural groupings, as delimited by previous authors, but instead form multiple discrete gene families. Additionally, robber fly venoms have relatively few sites under positive selection, consistent with the hypothesis that the venoms of older lineages are dominated by negative selection acting to maintain toxic function. Keywords: Asilidae; transcriptome; positive selection Key Contribution: Asilidae venoms have relatively few sites under positive selection, consistent with the hypothesis that the venoms of older lineages are dominated by negative selection acting to maintain toxic function. -
ARTHROPODA Subphylum Hexapoda Protura, Springtails, Diplura, and Insects
NINE Phylum ARTHROPODA SUBPHYLUM HEXAPODA Protura, springtails, Diplura, and insects ROD P. MACFARLANE, PETER A. MADDISON, IAN G. ANDREW, JOCELYN A. BERRY, PETER M. JOHNS, ROBERT J. B. HOARE, MARIE-CLAUDE LARIVIÈRE, PENELOPE GREENSLADE, ROSA C. HENDERSON, COURTenaY N. SMITHERS, RicarDO L. PALMA, JOHN B. WARD, ROBERT L. C. PILGRIM, DaVID R. TOWNS, IAN McLELLAN, DAVID A. J. TEULON, TERRY R. HITCHINGS, VICTOR F. EASTOP, NICHOLAS A. MARTIN, MURRAY J. FLETCHER, MARLON A. W. STUFKENS, PAMELA J. DALE, Daniel BURCKHARDT, THOMAS R. BUCKLEY, STEVEN A. TREWICK defining feature of the Hexapoda, as the name suggests, is six legs. Also, the body comprises a head, thorax, and abdomen. The number A of abdominal segments varies, however; there are only six in the Collembola (springtails), 9–12 in the Protura, and 10 in the Diplura, whereas in all other hexapods there are strictly 11. Insects are now regarded as comprising only those hexapods with 11 abdominal segments. Whereas crustaceans are the dominant group of arthropods in the sea, hexapods prevail on land, in numbers and biomass. Altogether, the Hexapoda constitutes the most diverse group of animals – the estimated number of described species worldwide is just over 900,000, with the beetles (order Coleoptera) comprising more than a third of these. Today, the Hexapoda is considered to contain four classes – the Insecta, and the Protura, Collembola, and Diplura. The latter three classes were formerly allied with the insect orders Archaeognatha (jumping bristletails) and Thysanura (silverfish) as the insect subclass Apterygota (‘wingless’). The Apterygota is now regarded as an artificial assemblage (Bitsch & Bitsch 2000). -
Diptera: Asilidae) of the PHILIPPINE ISLANDS
PACIFIC INSECTS Vol. 14, no. 2: 201-337 20 August 1972 Organ of the program "Zoogeography and Evolution of Pacific Insects." Published by Entomology Department, Bishop Museum, Honolulu, Hawaii, XJ. S. A. Editorial committee : J. L. Gressitt (editor), S. Asahina, R. G. Fennah, R. A. Harrison, T. C. Maa, C. W. Sabrosky, J. J. H. Szent-Ivany, J. van der Vecht, K. Yasumatsu and E. C. Zimmerman. Devoted to studies of insects and other terrestrial arthropods from the Pacific area, includ ing eastern Asia, Australia and Antarctica. ROBBER FLIES (Diptera: Asilidae) OF THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS By Harold Oldroyd1 CONTENTS I. Introduction 201 II. Zoogeographical relationships of the Philippine Islands 202 III. Key to tribes of Asilidae occurring there 208 IV. The tribes: (1) LEPTOGASTERINI 208 (2) ATOMOSIINI 224 (3) LAPHRIINI 227 (4) XENOMYZINI 254 (5) STICHOPOGONINI 266 (6) SAROPOGONINI 268 (7) ASILINI 271 (8) OMMATIINI 306 V. References 336 Abstract: The Asilidae of the Philippine Islands are reviewed after a study of recent ly collected material. Keys are given to tribes, genera and species. The number of genera is 28, and of species 100; one genus and 37 species are described as new. Illustrations include genitalic drawings of species. The relationships of the Asilidae of the Philippine Islands among the islands, and with adjoining areas, are discussed, and it is concluded that there is no present evidence of any endemic fauna. I. INTRODUCTION The present study arose indirectly out of participation in the compilation of a Catalog of Diptera of the Oriental Region, initiated and edited from Hawaii by Dr M.